16th-17th
august 2024
DOWNTOWN
STONEY CREEK
free Entry
The Red Hill Valleys
10:30pm - 11:30pm
Titan Stage
With powerful, earthy harmonies, rootsy guitar licks and timeless lyrics, The Redhill Valleys emerged with a force onto the Canadian music scene in 2016 and have remained steadfast on the Indie path. The four-piece Americana/Roots country-rock group, whose name pays homage to their hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, is comprised of band members Chelsea McWilliams (Bass/Vocals), Tim Allard (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Danielle Beaudin (Guitar/Vocals), and Matt Soliveri (Drums). Blending Rock, Americana, and Alternative Country to create their own unique sound, the band doesn’t shy away from nostalgia and pulls influence from artists such as Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Neil Young, The Band and Fleetwood Mac.
After releasing their two-part EP, Travel Well, in 2022 The Redhill Valleys’ single “Anymore'' garnered significant praise including winning first place in the American Songwriter Magazine lyric contest, and receiving regular airplay on SiriusXM's North Americana, CBC Country, and Tom Petty Radio. The band has also been nominated for several Awards, including "Best Group'' and "Best Roots Artists" at the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards for three years in a row.
Since their inception, the band has built a steady fanbase, extensively touring across Canada, with stops on prominent stages including Boots and Hearts Music Festival, Big Sky Music Festival, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, along with visits to the US and the UK. Passionate about bringing music lovers together, the band are also advocates for music accessibility and are involved in numerous programs that provide opportunities for music education including AIFEC, Girls Rock Camp, and City Kidz within their home city of Hamilton.
The Redhill Valleys show no signs of slowing down as they head into 2023. Now signed to MDM Recordings Inc., they will release their new single ‘Long Way Back’ under their new label on June 2.
Jess & Tay
10:00pm - 10:30pm
Community Stage
Together, Canadian singer songwriters Jessie Bower (Adili) & Taylor Adams are the voices behind the sweet yet rich harmonies of Jess and Tay. Launching into the Canadian country music scene at the 2016 Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist showcase, the duo has since played countless festivals across Canada including Boots & Hearts, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, and The Havelock Jamboree to name a few. Not only have they received over 300,000 streams across their various singles but they also have the high honour of being 2x CMAO nominee’s for group or duo of the year. You can stream their most recent single “Drinks With The Boys” wherever you get your music.
The Gold Tone Collective
9:15pm - 10:00pm
Titan Stage
The Gold Tone Collective is a constantly evolving band of musicians from all corners of the industry. Led by the undeniably talented Melissa Marchese, The Gold Tone Collective brings a high energy and loveable vibe to a wide selection of familiar covers and hard hitting originals.
Brad James
8:45pm - 9:15pm
Community Stage
Singer/songwriter Brad James is one of Hamilton’s foremost musical talents. His work has been influenced by artists such as Keith Urban, Brothers Osbourne, Midland, Dierks Bentley,
The Glorious Sons and many others.
Brad's sound is an unmistakably new and intriguing incorporation of rock and country. He is a constant fixture at venues within the GTA/Southern Ontario area and he proudly plays upwards of 200 shows per year. Performances with his band can be seen at country bar hotspots virtually every weekend.
He takes immense pride in the songwriting component of his career, having made numerous trips to Nashville to hone his craft and write with some of music city’s best writers. His newest single “Ain’t enough Bars” was written on one of those exciting trips.
Brad was nominated for the CMAO "Rising Star” award in 2019 and was named a finalist in the 2018 "Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist" showcase. His remarkable versatility and original sound continue to make him a crowd favorite. Brad has garnered a fan base across Canada organically through his artistic abilities and charismatic ways of engaging with his
audiences. “Ain’t Enough Bars” is his newest single and can be purchased on iTunes. Other releases can be streamed on Apple Music, Spotify and Google Music.
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Brian John Harwood
8:00pm - 8:45pm
Titan Stage
I’m Brian John Harwood. I was raised in a small town and grew up surrounded by the outdoors, family and country music. These are three pillars I’ve built my life and career around. At the age of 11, I picked up my first guitar and knew at that moment that music was in my blood. I’ve always been extremely artistic; sketching, welding, graphic design and songwriting are the primary creative outlets that fuel me. The stories that inspire the songs I sing come directly from the heart of my personal life. My family and friends inspire me every day to create music filled with love and positivity. With my roots planted in country music, I’ve always aimed to pull inspiration from a variety of different genres. I like to treat it like a cocktail: a splash of rock, a few drops of pop, and mix to taste to create something fresh and new. It’s been a busy few years as my career has started to climb; opening for acts like Zac Brown Band, Brothers Osborne and many more. I’ve accumulated over 5 million streams across platforms, climbed the radio charts, got a top 40 in Australia and multiple top 100 singles on the Canadian country airplay charts. I’m so grateful for all of it and I can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings.
Matthew Runaway
7:30pm - 8:00pm
Community Stage
Matthew Runaway is a rising country singer/songwriter from Perth, Ontario. Raised on a diligent cattle and crops farm, Matthew's songwriting style speaks his established work ethic, recreating the stories he's lived and the memories he's made.
In his early 20's, Matthew's ambition decisively drove him across those county lines and across North America with his previous EDM rock band, Aspire. With much success, Matthew simultaneously pushed forth with his writing career. Before long, he knew that it was time to start building his dream. With that, he instinctively closed this chapter of his life and began writing the next in pursuit of becoming a country singer/songwriter.
Matthew has since taken his stories to Nashville, writing music and sharing his talent with an amazing team that championed the release of his debut single "Small Town Pride" in November, 2018. Rooted deeply in his music are such stories that have been captured by lyrically vivid emotion. Each song brings forth true energy and authentic country experience thanks to his growing up on the family farm. Matthew's ability to capture life's most valuable moments in the instance of a song reveal his meticulous attention to detail and bring forward moments that surely take some a lifetime to encounter.
In the last year, Matthew has made his way across radio intriguing his fanbase with his multi-instrument talents. His past singles "Gettin' Over You" and "Sippin' On Summertime" reveal that raised up, feel good, heart-on-your-sleeve vision that we all 'Aspire' to. It's safe to say that music has opened a variety of doors to experiences that many would only dream of - placing Matthew’s brand in the heart of diversity. We can expect great things from Matthew as he continues to push into country's new artist music platform.
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The Wild High
6:45pm - 7:30pm
Titan Stage
The Wild High is the brainchild of Jon Harvey, former lead singer of Monster Truck. This new project brings all the big hits of The Truck, but adds a layer of harmony and a lil southern flavour for good measure. The “good time gang” is comin’!
Angelica Appelman
6:15pm - 6:45pm
Community Stage
Influenced by her love of 90’s country female powerhouse artists like Shania Twain and Martina McBride, Angelica, the Kitchener based artist introduced herself to the Canadian country music landscape with her upbeat debut single “Happy Place” in January 2022. The track amassed over 150,000 streams alone and was also picked up by Top of the Country/SiriusXM (Top 40) and continues to play to date. She continued that success with the release of her EP "A Reason Or A Season" racking in 300,000 catalogue streams. Her newest single release, “Ringtone” has been making big moves on radio, earning her a slot at Country 104's Top 30 Countdown, the hot pick at Hot Country 93.9 and Timmins Radio 93.1 Country "Country Futures", and currently has 40,000 streams since its release, May 31, 2024. Her most notable performances would be playing Cavendish Beach Music Festival Kitchen Stage 2024, her sold out show at the Rivoli in Toronto to celebrate the release of her EP, playing the main stage at Boots in the Creek Festival, the Diamonds in the Rough Showcase during country music week, playing the Anthem Entertainment CCMA After Party, and singing the national anthems for the Women's Hockey National Rivalry Series for 10,000 people. She was a finalist in the 100.1FM The Ranch Spotlight competition and got to perform at their 2nd Birthday Bash. Her music has showcased on popular Spotify playlists, Equal Canada and Live Country and on Amazon Music's Breakthrough Country and Just North of Nashville. She is planning for a busy 2024 with new music and lots of shows, including playing the night of Dean Brody at the Kemptville Live Music Festival this summer, as well as having the opportunity to open up for Robyn Ottolini at the Country Hoedown in Chatham-Kent.
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Kristin Nicholls Band
5:30pm - 6:15pm
Titan Stage
Kristin Nicholls Band are stepping into 2024 with lots of expectation after the success of their first country single “Free Again” last year. Being played across Canada & being picked up by Sirius XM “Top of the Country” their new single “You Make Me Feel” is picking up where they left off, already being added to Sirius XM.
Nicholls’ lyrics once again take the listeners on a journey of heartbreak to hope.
2023 saw the band opening for some bigger country acts (Tebey) & finding their way down in Nashville, writing & recording new songs with their producer Jordan Honsinger who plays live with Robyn Ottolini & Tebey.
The band is digging deeper with the video for “You Make Me Feel” as seen with the location & drone footage & Nicholls son, who steals the show.
Lots more to come from KNB in 2024, more releases, more singles, more videos more shows, keep an eye out for this band on a mission.
Matt & Bethany
5:00pm - 5:30pm
Community Stage
Matt and Bethany are your new favourite acoustic duo with country flair and effortless style. Their smooth harmonies and toe tapping rhythms are guaranteed to pull you in and not let go.
Bethany has been performing on stages across the country since age 11. She’s won provincial and national vocal competitions, pulling inspiration from artists like Shania Twain, Reba McIntyre, Kelly Clarkson and Lainey Wilson.
Before teaming up with Bethany in 2019, Matt was a touring musician for over a decade, playing his music for audiences across the country.
Currently performing at venues around the city, Matt and Bethany bring a fresh energy to the stage with their witty banter and captivating original tunes.
Jessica Sevier
4:15pm - 5:00pm
Titan Stage
Toronto’s Jessica Sevier is a country music artist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist making waves with her latest single, a nostalgic country-rock tune, “Legends of the Summer”. Since her debut single "Ghost of Tom" in 2019, Sevier’s music has been collectively streamed over 1 million times. Performing live has been a key part of growing her audience, and Sevier has shared the stage with artists including Jason McCoy and Tim and the Glory Boys, and has performed at music festivals and renowned venues including Whisky Jam in Nashville and the legendary Lee’s Palace in Toronto. Sevier has also showcased at Canadian Music Week each year since 2021.
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“Legends of the Summer” is perfectly suited for the season, and features Sevier’s distinct and sultry vocals with lyrics evoking cherished memories of past young love. The track is produced by Matt Koebel and written by powerhouse country songwriters Emma Lee, Karen Kosowski, Jessica Cayne, and Maddie Walker. Upon release in May 2023, the track received editorial support from DSPs and was immediately added at SiriusXM. Sevier’s charisma and expressive voice caught the attention of Sony/ATV and Liz Rose Music’s most talented songwriters, leading to Sevier recording her successful single "Confetti", released in March 2022. Produced in Nashville alongside Grady Saxman (Luke Combs and Tenille Arts), "Confetti" was a significant breakthrough, earning extensive airplay on Canadian country radio and racking up over 400,000 streams. The track secured the #1 spot on the Canadian Indie Country Radio Charts, solidifying Jessica's presence in the country music landscape.
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Danny Smart
3:45pm - 4:15pm
Community Stage
Hailing from small town England, Danny Smart is a country rock artist now calling Hamilton, Ontario home where he is also a producer/engineer at Halo Studios. His music is infused with the raw emotion and grit of blues, drawing influence from acclaimed musicians such as Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, and Muddy Waters.
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In 2020, Danny recorded his single "Take Me Home" at Blackbird Studios in Nashvillle, showcasing his soulful vocals and evocative songwriting. His lyrical style is deeply rooted in storytelling, reflecting his own experiences and encounters from his extensive travels around the world from 2017 to 2023. Through his music, Danny encapsulates his journey and the diverse characters he has encountered along the way, creating a genuine connection with his audience.
During his extensive travels around the world, where he honed his craft through performing daily, on stage, Danny exudes raw energy and sincerity, delivering each lyric with conviction and passion. With a sound that resonates with authenticity and a narrative-driven approach to songwriting, Danny Smart is poised to build upon his name in the world of country rock music.
Alexa Goldie
3:00pm - 3:45pm
Titan Stage
Singer-songwriter, Alexa Goldie, from Kingston, Ontario, now Nashville based, is making a name for herself in the country music scene. Her independent releases “Set In Stone” and “He Would” have been featured on CMT, Today In Nashville, RFDtv and BBC Radio. After 10 years of crafting her sound, Alexa is known to write the saddest breakup songs and command the attention of any Broadway Bar. In 2023, she was awarded the Artist of the Year and Record of the Year awards at the OMAs. Most recently, Alexa was a Semi-Finalist in the SiriusXM Top of the Country program, she is nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the 2024 CMAO Awards, announced as a Finalist in the Boots & Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase and will be opening up for Jade Eagleson, Josh Ross and Gord Bamford this summer.
Matt Morson
2:30pm - 3:00pm
Community Stage
Born and raised in a small town in rural Ontario, Matt used his passion and desire for music and songwriting as a way to express himself. Matt picked up his first guitar at age 11 to master Led Zeppelin’s “Communication Breakdown”. A late start to some, Matt honed his skills quickly. As the years went on, Morson started to work with various music festivals, assisting in production and general event logistics.
Over time, Matt developed a need to perform and eventually landed himself on stage. Morson’s charismatic presence and ability to connect with audience is what’s led him to several notable performances since the start of his career.
Highlights include opening for Doc Walker, George Canyon, Jojo Mason, River Town Saints, Paul Brandt and Aaron Pritchett to name a few. Most Comfortable on stage, he and his band are known for a high energy and extremely passionate live show. Preferring rehearsals to media appearances, Matt is always striving to make his sound better.
Matt Morson continues to write and perform music. He hopes to have his music played as much as possible. Not one to expect opportunities to come lightly, Morson spends the bulk of his free time in studio, recording and rehearsing with his band.
Paige Rutledge
1:45pm - 2:30pm
Titan Stage
Paige Rutledge sparkles on stage - both figuratively, and literally. Her vibrant personality and rhinestone-studded guitar elevate her already commanding presence. Falling in love with country music from an early age, Paige’s first live performance was actually for loved ones at her grandfather’s funeral. It was here she learned just how powerful music can be in connecting
people from all walks of life.
With a breakout year in 2023, Paige was a finalist in Lucknow’s Music in the Fields Emerging Artist Showdown, headlined Yonge and Dundas Square, and opened for Walker Hayes at Thunder Bay’s Country On The Bay summer festival. Paige also showcased at 2023 CCMA Country Music Week at the Diamonds In The Rough Showcase.
The vibrant emerging artist released singles “Gone Ain’t Really Gone” in Spring and “The Worst Thing” in the Fall, which is now in regular rotation on SiriusXM’s Top of the Country Radio. Rutledge has had editorial support, including the cover of Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Country playlist, and slots on a
number of playlists, including Spotify’s RADAR and Live Country (now North Country), and Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Country, Just North of Nashville, and Brand New Music.
Paige is currently working on her debut EP, slated for release in late 2024. This summer Paige will provide support for Tyler Joe Miller and Jason McCoy at the Hollyrood Country Jamboree, with more show announcements to come.
Benny Douglass
1:15pm - 1:45pm
Community Stage
Independent Country artist Benny Douglas has been quietly making his mark on the Canadian Country music scene. Douglas released his debut single in June 2021 and carried on writing and performing across the GTA and surrounding areas. In the Summer of 2023, Benny Douglas was selected as a top 8 finalist for the Emerging Artist Showcase at Boots and Hearts, Canada’s largest country music festival. Hailing from Peterborough ON, Douglas has a familiar small-town acoustic sound; drawing on the likes of Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan, and John Mayer, Benny provides a warm and genuine performance that will put a smile on your face.
Christina Hutt
12:30pm - 1:15pm
Titan Stage
Christina Hutt is a Canadian singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice and emotive performances. With a style that blends folk, country, and blues, she captivates audiences with her heartfelt lyrics and storytelling. Hutt's music often explores themes of love, loss, and resilience, resonating deeply with listeners. Over the years, she has built a loyal fanbase through her dynamic live shows and musical recordings. As an independent artist, Hutt continues to inspire with her authenticity and passion for music.
